The Black in Business Effect When: February 24, 2019

Above: Da Food: Crystal Kithara of Mixed Flavors & Cicely Forte'-Wright of Black Seed Vegans, Zeke Bryant of The Nguvu, and Dave Thomas of Jade’s Choice

43 black-owned businesses (46 total) filled D and J Events, 1844 Bluffton Road, for Kellie Hill-Hicks’ The Black in Business (B.I.B.) Effect entrepreneur expo, presented by Urban Update.  The free-to-the-public event showcased businesses like Made by Mothers from the Motherland, hand-crafted jewelry and clothing from Kenya, Jillian Lee’s UniqueLee Creations for custom designs, and Jade’s Choice that sells natural shea butter and fragrance.  The crowd was entertained by event-long music and dance exhibition, including the steppers from The Art Leadership Center, led by director/founder Adrian Curry, and fed by onsite cooks, like Black Seed Vegans.

Attendees felt a sense of community, according to Hill-Hicks.  They said, “it [felt like] something for the whole family, like something in bigger cities.”  She said this year’s event was twice as big as the last one.